Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, is extremely disappointed that MSPs on the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee (ECCLR) have today voted to reintroduce the painful procedure of tail docking for certain breeds of dogs in Scotland (Tuesday 13 June).

The new legislation on tail docking would see spaniel or hunt point retriever puppies less than five days old have the end third of their tails amputated, with no anaesthetic or pain relief, where there is a chance that they may become working dogs.

As dog lovers, we know that the worst aspect of loving a dog is losing a dog. Their lives are too short; never long enough. We must love them and make every day as happy as possible, and when they die keep them secure and cherished in our hearts.

Make the most of every day with your dog, and make memories to sustain you when they are gone. I'm often reminded of these words from Rudyard, warning of the dangers of, "giving your heart to a dog to tear".

“The Power of the Dog”

THERE is sorrow enough in the natural way
From men and women to fill our day;
And when we are certain of sorrow in store,
Why do we always arrange for more?
Brothers and Sisters, I bid you beware 5
Of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Buy a pup and your money will buy
Love unflinching that cannot lie—
Perfect passion and worship fed
By a kick in the ribs or a pat on the head. 10
Nevertheless it is hardly fair
To risk your heart for a dog to tear.

When the fourteen years which Nature permits
Are closing in asthma, or tumour, or fits,
And the vet’s unspoken prescription runs 15
To lethal chambers or loaded guns,
Then you will find—it’s your own affair—
But … you’ve given your heart to a dog to tear.

When the body that lived at your single will,
With its whimper of welcome, is stilled (how still!). 20
When the spirit that answered your every mood
Is gone—wherever it goes—for good,
You will discover how much you care,
And will give your heart to a dog to tear.

We’ve sorrow enough in the natural way, 25
When it comes to burying Christian clay.
Our loves are not given, but only lent,
At compound interest of cent per cent.
Though it is not always the case, I believe,
That the longer we’ve kept ’em, the more do we grieve: 30
For, when debts are payable, right or wrong,
A short-time loan is as bad as a long—
So why in—Heaven (before we are there)
Should we give our hearts to a dog to tear?

Run free Woody, you had the best thing a dog can have - a loving owner.

Ten-year-old Ziggy finally coaxed from drain after spending night underground!
A dog who disappeared down a drain pipe spent 19 hours underground after refusing to come back up to the surface!

The 10-year-old Patterdale terrier’s worried owner, Lauren Flintoft, contacted the RSPCA and fire and rescue service after Ziggy disappeared underground at the farm owned by her in-laws in Ripon, North Yorkshire.

Ziggy had been out on a walk on Monday evening last week (29 May) when he disappeared down the drain pipe and refused to re-surface.

Charity aims for pet owners to be prepared in a crisis
Do you know how to carry out CPR on your cat, what to do if your dog is choking or how to help a pet in shock? The RSPCA’s brand new free downloadable Pet First Aid Guide has everything owners need to know in an emergency.

As the UK’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity, the RSPCA hopes pet owners will download the guide onto their smartphone so they can be as prepared and knowledgeable as possible, should a crisis happen. The guide is available to download free* from now.

Yesterday (Saturday) more than 900 people and their four legged friends spent the day wallowing in mud. Together, they crawled, jumped, climbed, and waded through mud-drenched obstacles at Windsor Great Park. Unique, in being the only 2.5km and 5km obstacle runs in the UK in which participants can compete alongside their dog, as well as offering a lot of good clean(!) fun, the courses allowed entrants to raise much needed money for Battersea.
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Nupsala has an amazing treatment for dogs, and other animals. In this video you can see Sorrel, a German Pointer who goes from hobbling painfully, to running. It's incredible to see it, and it gives hope to all those whose dog is affected by this disease.

There will be an interview with Greg McGarrell about this pioneering treatment in Episode 183 of DogCast Radio.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home takes in hundreds of dogs and cats each year, but staff were taken aback when an unusually long-eared arrival came through their doors.
The Mini Lop rabbit arrived at Battersea’s London centre on Monday May 1, after a kind member of the public found her on the roadside not far from the shelter.
Battersea didn’t have a hutch to hand, but luckily member of staff Amy Baird did. Amy, who works as a lost and found assistant at Battersea, offered to give the rabbit a home- naming her Lotus.

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Gregory Berns talks about his book What It's Like to be a Dog, which is a thought provoking and fascinating read. Sue Corfield tells us about the dog activity holidays she runs in the beautiful Shropshire countryside. Plus we've rounded up some happy stories for the DogCast Radio News.

In this episode you can hear Mark Winik talk about his debut novel, The Dog Healers, and listen to Julia Robertson explain why she founded the charity War Dogs remembered. Plus there's the DogCast Radio News, and what Mischief the German Spitz puppy has been up to.

In this episode you can hear about Service Dogs UK, a fantastic charity which trains assistance dogs to support veterans of any service - military personnel, police, firefighters, paramedics and the coastguard - who develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder due to their job. Also, listen to Dr Jody A Dean, a clinical psychologist talk about how her book, Roxie the Doxie finds her Forever Home, is helping children understand and talk about adoption and other family issues. Plus the DogCast Radio News and some thoughts on the alpha dog myth.

In this episode you can hear about Muffin's Halo for Blind Dogs, and what motivates people to enter their dog in a fun dog show. In the DogCast Radio News, listen to stories about the latest dog related research. Plus there's a new member of the DogCast Radio team!

In this episode you can hear trainer, behaviourist, writer, broadcaster and wolf expert Maxwell Muir talk about what wolves mean to him personally, their plight in a modern world, and his hopes for their future. Plus we have the DogCast Radio News.